Muhammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari
Muhammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari | |
|---|---|
| محمد عبد الكريم الغماري | |
| Chief of Staff of the Yemeni Armed Forces disputed by Sagheer Hamoud Aziz (Presidential Leadership Council) | |
| Assumed office Unknown (c. 2016) | |
| Appointed by | Mohammed Ali al-Houthi |
| President | Mahdi al-Mashat |
| Prime Minister | Talal Aklan Abdel-Aziz bin Habtour Ahmad al-Rahawi |
| Preceded by | Hussein Khairan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1982 (age 42–43) Izla Dhaen, Wahha District, Hajjah Governorate, Yemen Arab Republic |
| Nationality | Yemen |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Yemen (de facto under Supreme Political Council) |
| Branch/service | Yemeni Armed Forces (SPC) Houthi movement |
| Years of service | c. ?–present |
| Rank | Major general |
| Battles/wars | Yemeni Civil War (2014–present) Battle of Sanaa (2014) Marib campaign |
Muhammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari (Arabic: محمد عبد الكريم الغماري) is the Chief of the General Staff of the Houthi-led faction of the Yemeni Armed Forces, holding the rank of Major General.[1][2][3]
Background
Born around 1979–1984 in Izla Dhaen, Wahha District, Hajjah Governorate, Yemen. He studied at the Hussain Badr al‑Din al‑Houthi Institute circa 2003.[4]
Career
He rose through the Houthi ranks since the early 2000s, trained by Hezbollah and Iran’s IRGC in Syria and Lebanon, and is credited with establishing Houthi suicide units and military camps.[5][6] In 2007 he oversaw training in Hajjah, and by 2016 he was appointed Houthi Chief of Staff.[2]
Military role
Al‑Ghamari coordinates military campaigns, including cross-border missile/drone strikes in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and more recently at Israel. He led offensives in Marib province (2021–22), which threatened nearly a million internally displaced people.[7]
Sanctions & international status
Sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in May 2021 as a Specially Designated National (SDN) for coordinating offensive operations.[2][5] Added to UN Security Council’s sanctions list in November 2021 for threatening Yemeni peace and stability and cross-border aggression.[2][7]
Attempted assassination
On 14 June, the IDF stated that it had targeted al-Ghamari.[8] An Israeli official later stated that he had been wounded in the attack, though this was denied by the Houthis.[9] Some Israeli media reports had initially claimed that al-Ghamari was targeted while he was meeting other Houthi leaders, however the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation later stated that he was at a khat-chewing party.[10]
See also
References
- ^ نيوز, العرش (14 June 2025). "من هو محمد عبدالكريم الغماري الذي أعلنت إسرائيل استهدافه في صنعاء؟ محلي". العرش نيوز (in Arabic). Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Muhammad Abd Al-Karim Al-Ghamari". Counter Extremism Project. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ Azulay, Moran; Zitun, Yoav (15 June 2025). "Houthi military chief of staff wounded in Yemen attack, official says". Ynetnews. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ "Muhammad Abd Al-Karim Al-Ghamari". 2025.
- ^ a b Truzman, Joe (6 October 2024). "Analysis: The Houthis' leadership structure". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ Fabian, Emanuel. "Israeli officials say Houthi military chief targeted in Yemen strike". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ a b "MUHAMMAD ABD AL-KARIM AL-GHAMARI | Security Council". main.un.org. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ Fabian, Emanuel (15 June 2025). "Israeli officials say Houthi military chief targeted in Yemen strike". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
- ^ Azulay, Moran; Zitun, Yoav (15 June 2025). "Houthi military chief of staff wounded in Yemen attack, official says". Ynet. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
- ^ "Houthi military chief was at khat-chewing party when targeted in Israeli strike – report". The Times of Israel. 19 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.